Waitress Has Hepatitis A

FLORIDA - The State - In Brief

June 27, 2002

SUNRISE -- A waitress who served hundreds of people at the Hard Rock Cafe here has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver disease. The waitress worked at the Hard Rock Cafe in the Sawgrass Mills mall from June 14 to June 19 before the infection was discovered, said Dr. Jim Cresanta of the Broward Health Department. She is thought to have served about 5 percent of the 3,500 people who ate at the restaurant at that time.

Cresanta said the risk of customers getting the disease is low, but shots of immune globulin are available from the health department for people who fear they might be infected. Hepatitis A causes moderate to severe gastrointestinal upset but usually is not fatal.